Crutch



y 1962 F. KLINO CRUTCH Filed Sept. 26, 1960 F/6.8 E 2 lNvENT'OF? l, 33 30 FRED KL/NO BY ATTORNEYS Unitcd 3,934,524 CRUTCH Fred Kline, 931 11th Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Sept. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 58,243 3 Claims. (Cl. 1355l)) and improved adjustable crutch including a pair of elon- 1 gate sections interconnected together for relative longitudinal extensible and retractable movement and including releasable locking means for locking the sections in an extended position and being releasable to permit said sections to be retracted so that the crutch is of a relatively small compass to thereby facilitate handling of the crutch when traveling in automobiles and the like. i

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved adiustable crutch comprised of longitudinally extensible and retractable telescoping sections including locking means for locking said sections in an extended position and including positioning means cooperating with said sections for positively limiting extension of said sections to a predetermined extended position to thereby facilitate locking thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my novel adjustable crutch, with certain parts thereof indicated in a difierent or adjusted position by dotted line configuration;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational View of the crutch illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the locking mechanism of my crutch with one of the cover plates removed therefrom and with a section illustrated in a locked extended position;

FIG. 4' is a fragmentary view similar to and on the same scale as FIG. 3 of the locking mechanism with one of the plates removed and with the section illustrated in an unlocked retracted position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately along line 55 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale taken approximately along line fi6 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed end view on an enlarged scale of the locking means; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed View on an enlarged scale of a portion of the locking pin.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that one embodiment of my novel adjustable crutch designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 19 includes an upper section 11 and a lower section 12 interconnected to the upper section 11 for longitudinal extensible and retractable movement relative thereto. These sections 11 and 12 while being formed from substantially rigid material such as wood in the embodiments shown may'al so be formed of metallic material such as aluminum which is durable but of relatively light weight.

The upper section 11 is of open frame construction and is comprised of a pair of elongate frame elements 13 disposed in spaced apart, parallel relation as best seen in FIG. 1. The upper terminal portions of the elongate frame elements 13 are rigidly interconnected by shoulder rest 14 having a concavely curved upper surface 15 to accommodate the user of the crutch. This shoulder rest 14 is rigidly interconnected with the upper portions of each of the frame elements 13 by a small angle bracket 16 which has one leg thereof bolted to the shoulder rest, the other leg of each bracket being secured to its associated frame element 13 by means of a bolt 17 and a wing nut 18. Thus, it will be seen that the upper end of the elongate frame elements 13 are rigidly connected together. It will also be noted that the lower terminal portions of each of the frame elements 13 are also rigidly interconnected together by a pair of similar spaced apart plates 19 and 29, as best seen ll1 FIG. 22. These plates are preferably formed of "a light weight metallic material such as aluminum and are rigidly secured to the elongate elements 13 by means of bolts or the like. Plate 19 is also provided with a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending slots 19:: the function of which will be set forth hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the upper section 11 is also provided with a pair of substantially pzmallel, laterally spaced guide elements 21 interposed between the two plates and each being of substantially elongate shape. These guide elements 21 extend longitudinally of the upper section 11 and cooperate with elongate elements 13, plate 19 and plate 2% to define a central or intermediate guideway 22 and "a pair of lateral or outer guideways 23. It will be noted from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 that the guideways 22 and 23 are arranged in side by side relation and that each of the guide elements 21 is preferably fixedly secured between the plates 19 and 20 by means of bolts or the like.

The lower section 12, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed of a single elongate member, in the embodiment shown, which is provided with a small cover 24 for covering the lowermost end. This tip cover 25 is preferably formed of a tough resilient material to not only prevent deformation and wear of the lower end of a lower section 12 but also serves to permit greater frictional engagement with a surface thus preventing accidental slippage or the like.

The upper terminal portion of the lowermost section 12 is provided with a hand grip frame 25 which may also be formed of a suitable light weight metallic material such as aluminum and which includes a substantially channel shaped element 26, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. The central portions of the flanges of the channel shaped memher 26 extend downwardly and cooperate with each other to define socket 26a, the outer edges of the downwardly protruding socket portion 26a having tabs 26!) which are bent to engage the side portions of the lower section 12. The hand grip frame 25 may be secured to the upper portion of the lower section 12 by means of a bolt and nut assembly 26 which extends through suitable apertures formed in the channel shaped element 26 and the upper portion of the lower section 12. The hand grip frame 25 also includes a pair of upwardly extending legs 27 each having laterally struck tabs 27a bent to embrace the elongate frame elements in sliding relation therewith and which actually function as guide means to facilitate extension and retraction of the lower section 12. The upper terminal portions of each of the legs 27 are interconnected by substantially cylindrical hand grip elements 28, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, which may be grasped by a user when the crutch is in extended position and which facilitates retraction and extension of the crutch in a manner to be described hereinbelow.

It will be noted that the elongate lower section 12 extends through the central guideway 22 and is slidably movable therein to a retractable position as indicated in dotted line configuration of FIG. 1 to an extended position indicated by full line configuration in FIG. 1.

Means are also provided for locking the lower section 12 in an extended position. This locking means includes a plurality of apertures 2% which extend completely through the upper portions or" the lower frame 12 so that the opposite open ends of the apertures 2% are arranged in longitudinally extending rows on opposite sides of the lower section. This locking means also includes a pair of loo"- ing pins 3!) which are of elongate shape and wl'n'ch are mounted for axial shifting movement relative to the upper section 11. Each of these pins 39 are disposed in axially spaced apart relation, as best seen in FIGS. 3 to 5, and each is positioned within an opening 31 formed in its associated view element 21. Each of the locking pins 3% is provided with a diagonally disposed camming groove 33 formed intermediate the ends thereof and it will be seen that these locking pins 33 are movable between interlocking relation with one of the openings or apertures 29 and unlocked relation as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Means are provided for causing the locking pins 3 to be moved into and out of locking relation with a preselected one of the apertures 29 and this means includes an actuating mechanism 3-:- comprised of a pair of shiftable members 35 each being disposed in slidable relation within one of the outer guideways 23. Each of these shiftable members 35 is comprised of an upper element 36 and a lower element 37 longitudinally spaced apart and interconnected by Z-shaped camming member 33. This Z-shaped member 38 has oppositely turned ends which are suitably disposed within the apertures formed within each of the upper-and lower elements 36 and 37, as best seen in FIGS. 3 to 5. It will be noted that each of the oamming members 38 includes a diagonally extending central portion 38a having an elongate slot 39 formed therein and each of the pins 3 3 is positioned within the slot 39 of its associated camming member 38. Actually the edges defined by each slot 39 engage in the camming groove 33 of the locking pins 345 so that vertical movement of the shiitable members cause axial shifting of the locking pins 36 between locked and unlocked positions.- The shiftable members 35 are rigidly interconnected by gripping member 49 positioned extcriorly of the locking plate 19 and which serves to cause simultaneous movement of'the shiftable members 35. It will be seen that the gripping member 46 includes a flange 41 suitably se cured to the upper elements 26 of each of the shiftable members 35 by means of bolts or the like and also includes a flange 41a which extends normal thereto and which is adaptable to be gripped or moved by the users fingers to facilitate locking and unlocking of the locking pins 30. It will be noted that the bolts Mia which secure the gripping member to the upper elements 36 extend through the slots 19a formed in the plate 19 so that the gripping member may be moved longitudinally of the plate 19 for causing simultaneous movement of the shiftable members 35. Thus, it will be seen that by merely shifting the grip' ping member 40, the locking pins may be caused to move from interlocking relation to unlocked relation with respect to the apertures 29.

Since the locking pins 3% are concealed from vision of the user, means are provided for positioning the lower section 12 so that a preselected aperture 29 will be disposed in axial alignment with the locking pins 30. To this end, I have provided a plurality of apertures 42 extending through the upper portion of the lower section 12 and each having an axis disposed normal to the apertures 29. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the apertures 42 for the most part are disposed above the apertures 29 and serve to provide a means for securing a positioning element 43 in a preselected position on the upper portion of the lower section 12. This positioning element 43 is provided with an inturned flange 44 which is engageable with the upper edge 1% of the plate 1?. iositioning element 43 is selectively secured in a predetermined position by means of a bolt 45 which extends through the positioning element and one of the apertures 42 and is secured in place by means of a wing nut 46. it will be seen that with this arrangement the lower section when moved to an extended position will be limited in its longitudinal extensible movement by means of the abutting cooperating relation between the positioning element 43 in the upper edge 1% of the plate 19.

In use the crutch it? will be normally arranged in its extended position for support of the user and if it is desirable to move the crutch to a retracted position when, for example, the user is riding in relatively close quarters such as an automobile, the user merely moves the gripping member 48 from its 'lowermost'position, as indicated in FIG. 1, to an elevated position illustrated in FIG. 4. Movement of the gripping member 4% causes the shiftable members 35 to move therewith as a unit and a diagonal portion 33a of each camming member 38 cooperates with the camming groove 33 of locking pins 36 so that these locking pins are caused to move out of interlocking engagement with the aperture 2% as illustrated in FIG. 4. The hand grip element 28 may then be grasped and pulled upwardly until the lower section 12 is nested or telescoped within the upper section 11. When so retracted, the crutch 12 is of relative small compass and is very easy to handle which is important, for example, in automobiles, busses and the like Where there is a minimum of space. When it is desirable to move the lower section l2 to an extended position the user merely urges the lower section 12 downwardly by grasping the hand grip element 25 and thereafter pusln'ng the lower section downwardly. When the positioning element 43 engages the upper edge 19b of the plate 19, further extensible movement of the lower section, of course, will be prevented. The user then urges the gripping member 40 downwardly thus causing the locking pins 30 to be moved axially towards each other and into engagement with the apertures 29. In this connection, it will be noted that the positioning member 43 will be positioned in any selected one of the apertures 42 which will predetermine which of the apertures 29 the locking pins 39 will be in alignment with when the positioning element 43 is in abutting relation with the plate 19. Thus it will be seen that the length of the crutch maybe varied to accommodate users having difierent heights; This is extremely important in hospitals and institutions wherein crutches are supplied to users for temporary periods of time so that the same crutch may be used by several persons comfortably even thoughthe heights of these people vary.

Thus, it will be seen that the crutch 19 is not only provided with means for positively locking the crutch in extended position but includes means for facilitating locking of the crutch even though the locking elements are concealed from the user. This positioning means permits locking of the crutch in a predetermined extended position without any fumbling or juggling of the parts by the user.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a novel crutch which is readily adjustable to permit a user to retract the crutch when the crutch is not being used to support the user, and which also permits the user to readily extend the crutch for use. 7

It will also be noted from the above description that my novel and extensible retractable'crutch includes positive locking means arranged and constructed to positively lock the sections in an extended position without any danger of accidental unlocking of the locking means.

It will also be seen that my novel crutch includes positioning means so that the lockingmechanism which is of the pin and aperture type will be arranged for positive locking when the sections are in'the extended position without involving unnecessary manipulation of the parts by the user.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a novel 5 crutch which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction but which provide improved functions not found in any comparable adjustable crutches.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro portions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An adjustable crutch comprising an elongate upper section including a pair of laterally spaced-apart elongate elements rigidly joined together adjacent their respective ends, an elongate lower section shiftably connected to said upper section between said elongate elements for longitudinal extensible and retractable movement relative thereto, releasable locking means for locking said lower section in an extended position and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart apertures formed in the upper portion of said lower section and extending through opposite sides thereof, a pair of axially shiftable locking pins shiftably mounted on the lower portions of said elongate elements, said locking pins being axially shiftable inwardly towards each other into locking engagement with a selected one of said apertures, and shiftable axially away from each other out of locking engagement with said preselected one of said apertures, actuating mechanism for actuating said locking means including a shiftable actuating member, cooperating abutting camming surfaces on said actuating member and locking pin respectively for simultaneously causing shifting movement of the latter during shifting movement or" said actuating member, and cooperating positioning elements on said sections for limiting longitudinal extensible movement of said lower section and positively positioning said locking pin in alignment with a preselected one of said apertures to facilitate locking of said lower section in a predetermined extended position.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said cooperating positioning elements is adjustably mounted on said lower section to freely permit a pair of locking pins to be aligned in predetermined relation with any of said apertures.

3. An adjustable crutch comprising an elongate upper section including a pair of laterally spaced-apart elongate elements, means interconnecting the lower end of said elongate elements and defining an intermediate longitudinaily extending guideway and a pair of outer, longitudinaliy extending guideways arranged in side by side relation, said outer guideways being disposed on opposite sides of said intermediate guideway and an elongate lower section shittably connected to said upper section and being longitudinally extensible and retractable relative thereto, said lower section being disposed within and extending through said intermediate guideway, releasable locking means for locking said lower section in an extended position and including a plurality of apertures arranged in a pair of longitudinally extending rows on opposite sides of the upper portion of the lower section, a pair of axially spaced apart locking pins shiftably mounted on said upper section adjacent the lower portion thereof and each being axially movable into and out of locking engagement with a selected one of said apertures of one of said rows and each having a carnming surface, actuating mechanism including a pair of shiftable members each being disposed in one of said outer guideways for longitudinally shifting movement relative thereto, said shiftable members being rigidly interconnected to permit simultaneous shifting thereof and each having a camming surface disposed in cooperating abutting relation with the camming surface of one of said locking pins to cause axial shifting of said locking pins during shifting movement of said shiftable actuating members whereby said locking pin may be moved into and out of locking engagement with said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,047 Jacobucci Sept. 5, 1939 2,264,015 Bennett Nov. 25, 1941 2,474,722 Blume June 28 ,1949 

